Hello to all the GMAT-Beaters of BeatTheGMAT! My name is Matt, and I stumbled across this forum when searching for answers to a few questions I suddenly have about the GMAT. I figured I could explain my situation, and you folks could provide a good source of feedback as to what I should do.
Basically, I'm applying for admission to a MAcc program at a small, maybe upper-mid tier private university with decent connections to accounting firms. My undergrad career at said university was "disappointing", in that I had a pretty bad GPA, but squeaked through with an accounting degree. Since then, I've gotten my act together, passed half the CPA exam, re-took a couple of accounting courses and killed 'em, got good again with the faculty, scored some decent-not-great work experience and now figure I'm probably getting in.
I did have to take the GMAT, however. I did a little research on it and since it seemed a lot like the SAT, which I did pretty well on (granted, that was 7 or 8 years ago), I didn't really prepare for it at all. Just stopped in and took it on my way home from work tonight.
Turns out, I did pretty well on it- I scored an unofficial 670 (44Q, 38V). The thing is, although I could generally figure out most of the quantitative problems with enough time, I got too caught up in a few questions that I should have just punted on. I ended up running out of time with between 8 and 10 of the 37 question left unanswered.
This result left me with unanswered questions of my own as well:
1. Roughly how many points might I have left on the table by not answering those 8-10 questions?
2. How difficult is it to jump from a 670 to a 700+? I assume it is more difficult getting that than, say, 640 to a 670, but I don't know for certain.
3. How much could I add to my score if I end up scoring well on the essays?
4. Considering that I'm pretty sure I'm in to the MAcc program at the ol' alma-mater, would getting a higher GMAT score really matter for me? Do employers put much emphasis on it in evaluating prospects?
5. Can an exceptional GMAT score compensate for low grades as an undergrad with MBA schools? If I made an effort to improve my score and was able to get above a 700, what type/tier of B-Schools or MAcc programs could a low undergrad GPA person have a shot at?
6. Is there much value in getting an MBA if you have your CPA license?
7. What would you do if you were in my shoes?
Thank you for reading this. I realize it is long, and this is my first post here. I will continue to peruse the forums here, but if you feel like you could provide a little honest insight into my situation or answer a couple of the questions I have, I would really appreciate it. Thanks again, and have a nice weekend!
-Matt
Basically, I'm applying for admission to a MAcc program at a small, maybe upper-mid tier private university with decent connections to accounting firms. My undergrad career at said university was "disappointing", in that I had a pretty bad GPA, but squeaked through with an accounting degree. Since then, I've gotten my act together, passed half the CPA exam, re-took a couple of accounting courses and killed 'em, got good again with the faculty, scored some decent-not-great work experience and now figure I'm probably getting in.
I did have to take the GMAT, however. I did a little research on it and since it seemed a lot like the SAT, which I did pretty well on (granted, that was 7 or 8 years ago), I didn't really prepare for it at all. Just stopped in and took it on my way home from work tonight.
Turns out, I did pretty well on it- I scored an unofficial 670 (44Q, 38V). The thing is, although I could generally figure out most of the quantitative problems with enough time, I got too caught up in a few questions that I should have just punted on. I ended up running out of time with between 8 and 10 of the 37 question left unanswered.
This result left me with unanswered questions of my own as well:
1. Roughly how many points might I have left on the table by not answering those 8-10 questions?
2. How difficult is it to jump from a 670 to a 700+? I assume it is more difficult getting that than, say, 640 to a 670, but I don't know for certain.
3. How much could I add to my score if I end up scoring well on the essays?
4. Considering that I'm pretty sure I'm in to the MAcc program at the ol' alma-mater, would getting a higher GMAT score really matter for me? Do employers put much emphasis on it in evaluating prospects?
5. Can an exceptional GMAT score compensate for low grades as an undergrad with MBA schools? If I made an effort to improve my score and was able to get above a 700, what type/tier of B-Schools or MAcc programs could a low undergrad GPA person have a shot at?
6. Is there much value in getting an MBA if you have your CPA license?
7. What would you do if you were in my shoes?
Thank you for reading this. I realize it is long, and this is my first post here. I will continue to peruse the forums here, but if you feel like you could provide a little honest insight into my situation or answer a couple of the questions I have, I would really appreciate it. Thanks again, and have a nice weekend!
-Matt
